“Listen, here’s the plan: Alpheus marries the Princess, then waits until the King kicks the bucket! Since the Queen’s a witch, she won’t age, right? Just fifty years of patience, and it’s a happy ending for everyone!”

“Mirian may not age, but Alpheus will. By then, he’d be an old man—a grandfather—when he finally wins her over.”

“Ah, damn, you’re right. In that case… I know! We’ll find a way to kill the King early. Maybe feed him greasy food until his heart gives out, or turn him into an alcoholic. Doesn’t that sound like a solid plan?”

“The King’s diet is strictly managed by the palace staff, so that won’t be easy. They say it’s easier to bribe the King’s guards than his chefs. But seriously, where do you even come up with ideas like this?”

“This? It’s a trick some elves use when they want to steal someone else’s lover. We hate pointless killing, after all.”

“Elves are strangely moral in the oddest ways.”

As I adjusted the stifling ceremonial collar around my neck, the playful banter between Seha and Jorfe floated through the air. Normally, I’d laugh at their antics, but this time, I couldn’t even muster a smile.

“What are you doing, Seha?”

“What do you think? I’m trying to grant your wish! I stayed up all night brainstorming how this amazing elf could make your dream come true.”

“You’re not helping at all.”

“Relax, idiot. I’m joking, just trying to lighten you up. But seriously, do you actually like the Queen? Or do you have some other motive?”

“...”

Even after my attempt to shut her down, Seha’s imagination continued to run wild. To my surprise, even Jorfe chimed in with a more serious tone.

“This isn’t something to brush off lightly, Alpheus. If even Seha thinks this way, it means there are plenty of others seriously considering the same thing.”

“I didn’t expect the Sage of Harvit to indulge in gossip.”

“No rumor spreads in the palace without purpose. And if you’re at the center of it, I can’t ignore it as your friend.”

“We’ve only been here for a day. Of course, baseless rumors are running wild. Yesterday, I even heard someone seriously claim Seha’s over six thousand years old.”

“Wait, what? Who said that? Tell me who, right now!” Seha yelled, practically leaping out of her seat.

“My point is, people are prone to exaggeration right now. Give it a week, and these rumors will naturally die down.”

I tried to end the conversation calmly, eager to move on. But Jorfe furrowed his brows and continued voicing his concerns.

“Most rumors will fade, yes. But some will linger—especially those with even a shred of plausibility. Those turn into fodder for conspiracy theorists.”

“Neither the King nor I are fools who’ll be swayed by baseless chatter.”

“I know you’re smart, Alpheus. But I don’t trust the King. And no matter how sound your logic is, a thousand fools insisting otherwise can turn truth into nonsense.”

“I can’t argue with that,” Jorfe said.

“I’m just suggesting you give it some thought. Though, of course, I trust you to handle things well, Alpheus.”

The unease lingering in Jorfe’s expression slowly faded, replaced by the trust we’d built over time. Only then did I feel a sense of release and stood up from my seat.

“Alright, I should get going now. His Majesty is waiting for me.”

“Best of luck with your discussion. Honestly, I also think it’s too early for the engagement, so I hope His Majesty reconsiders.”

“Yeah, just tell him loud women don’t suit you. Oh, and if there’s anything tasty, bring some back. The royal chefs are awful—they ignore me no matter how much I beg for meat and just keep feeding me grass all day!” Seha grumbled.

“They’ve probably never met a meat-loving elf before, Seha.”

“Ugh, and I’ve never met such rigid, inferior beings before either.”

“Haha…”

The tension lifted, and a smile finally returned to my face. Jorfe, watching me, added one last remark.

“Oh, and Alpheus—don’t dismiss what Seha said earlier. She may curse and ramble constantly, but this time, there’s some meaning in her words.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s suggesting that if you’re serious about the Queen, marrying the Princess first might not be a bad idea. It’s surprisingly plausible.”

“Not you too, Jorfe…”

“Half-joking. But if you want serious advice, come to Harvit with a million gold later. Got it?”

He winked, throwing in his usual playful jab. It was his way of offering something useful, but to me, it sounded more like a reminder that our time together was running short.

What would I become if they left my side? Without them to keep me grounded, would I grow more cautious—or lose control entirely?

The answer was obvious, yet I forced myself to ignore it, stepping forward with heavy, deliberate steps. Each footfall felt weighed down, the shadows of doubt clinging to my heels.

“Ah, our protagonist has arrived!”

The King greeted me with a wide smile as soon as I entered the room, guided by the maids. The Princess sat beside him, looking ready to leap up with excitement.

But someone was missing. Before I could voice my thoughts, the King, anticipating my question, spoke first.

“Oh, the Queen will be here soon. Women always take forever to prepare, you know. Unlike us, who can throw on a suit of armor and march into battle.”

“I must have hurried too much out of eagerness to meet Your Majesty. If I’ve been discourteous, I apologize.”

“Eh? No, no, the one being rude is her, taking her time for her own daughter’s engagement discussion. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Your Majesty’s generosity knows no bounds.”

“You’re such a polite young man. Ah, you all leave us now,” the King said, dismissing the attendants with a wave. “Not that we’re discussing anything secret, but it’s better this way.”

As I took my seat, the King leaned back in his chair, visibly relaxing.

“Finally, we can talk comfortably. Not to criticize my attendants, but sometimes they stifle me.”

“You’re too informal, Father. Alpheus is still a guest, and you should act accordingly,” the Princess chided.

“Ah, come on, girl. He’s going to be family soon anyway. Can’t I at least sit comfortably in front of my son-in-law?”

“Still…”

“My own daughter is nagging me now. Truly, wielding a sword out in the field was less exhausting. Right, Alpheus?”

He winked at me, clearly seeking agreement. When I offered a faint smile, he burst into hearty laughter.

“See? It’s good to have someone who gets me. People like us, with fire in our veins, are rare in this world.”

“I’m honored by your words, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, enough with the formalities. You can stop calling me ‘Your Majesty.’ Just call me ‘Father-in-law’ from now on.”

“I… wouldn’t know how to respond to that.”

“Well, forcing you to be too casual would just be awkward, wouldn’t it? Anyway, let’s get to why I called you here.”

Finally, his tone grew a bit more serious, though the mischievous smile remained.

“As you’ve probably guessed, I wanted to discuss the engagement with my daughter. If it were up to me, I’d have the wedding today, but that’d be too rushed. So, we’ll start with the engagement ceremony. What do you think?”

“I’m deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

“Of course, you are. That’s to be expected.”

“I just think we may be rushing this,” I said cautiously. “Deciding the Princess’s engagement so hastily feels unwise, especially given its significance. While I am honored by your trust, Your Majesty, I worry I may not live up to your expectations.”

The King paused, seemingly weighing my words, and the Princess surprised me by chiming in.

“Alpheus’s right, Father. There’s a matter of the royal family’s dignity to consider. If we rush this engagement, what will people think?”

“Well, I didn’t expect you to disagree with me,” he said with a chuckle.

“Of course, I approve of Alpheus. He’s wonderful. But that’s precisely why we need to approach this thoughtfully.”

“Ah, this is troubling. Another nagging voice joins the chorus. When did my little girl grow up so much?”

“Father.”

“Alright, alright. I admit I’ve been impulsive. But you must understand how much I missed you while you were gone. It’s been hard for this old man to bear.”

His eyes softened as he looked at his daughter, the weight of his emotions visible for a fleeting moment. Then, as if embarrassed by his sentimentality, he shifted his gaze and changed the subject.

“Times like this call for advice from the wisest among us. Just as Alpheus has his sage, I have mine. But she’s running late today for some reason.”

“Yes, why is she taking so long?”

“Maybe she’s dealing with something else. Why don’t you go check on her, my dear? In the meantime, I’ll have a word with our brave hero here.”

“I…”

“Please. It won’t take long.”

With a resigned sigh, the Princess rose and left the room, leaving the King and me alone. Once the door closed, he exhaled deeply, a rare glimpse of his fatigue showing before his playful grin returned.

“...She’s growing into a fine young woman. It’s almost suffocating how much she’s changed, don’t you think?”

“...”

“If only you’d arrived ten years earlier, my life would’ve been much easier,” he added, half-joking but with a glimmer of sincerity. He leaned closer, his tone shifting to one of directness.

“Let me get straight to the point, Alpheus. Marry the Princess.”

“Your Majesty—”

“And become the next king. Carry on my legacy.”

“I…”

“That’s all I’m asking of you.”

His voice was firm, devoid of hesitation, as if this was a decision he had long since resolved.

“People are already talking, you know. They’re saying the next hero is after my throne. It’s only natural—they think you’re just as ambitious as I was.”

“I have no such intentions.”

“I know. You’re far more noble than I ever was. But when enough people rally behind you, you’ll find yourself wanting to fulfill their expectations, whether you planned to or not. And I won’t have the strength to resist.”

“Your words are dangerous, Your Majesty.”

“Which is why they’re also honest. I’ve already accepted that you’re better suited for this role than I am.”

Before I could respond, he placed a hand on my shoulder. It felt heavy, as though he were draping me in an invisible mantle of authority.

“A hero must know when it’s time to leave. And for me, that time has come. Even if not tomorrow, I hope you’ll accept my offer soon.”

“So your talk of an immediate engagement was just to gauge my reaction.”

“I promised to grant anything to the one who saved my daughter. This is that promise: my kingdom and my precious daughter. Everything I have is yours. All I ask is that you take it.”

“...”

“And as someone who’s been in your shoes, let me give you some advice: heroes who get what they want so easily are rare, Alpheus.”

His final words carried the weight of a true confession, spoken to someone he considered his equal. Yet before I could fully process his plea, the door opened, and the moment was shattered.

“...I apologize for being late.”

Her composed, delicate voice resonated through the room. Before I could fully take her in, the King stood to greet her warmly.

“You’re quite late today. You don’t need all that preparation to be beautiful, you know.”

“If I don’t maintain myself, time will eventually bury me,” Mirian replied with her usual coolness.

“Unnecessary modesty. You look even more stunning today, perhaps because it’s been a while.”

“Do I?”

Her response, as ever, was detached. Yet the King’s jovial mood faltered as he noticed something.

“What’s this? There’s something unusual about you today.”

“What do you mean?”

“You spent so much time getting ready, but you missed this.”

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

“This red mark on your neck. Is it lipstick?”

“I’m not sure,” she said with a glance my way.

“...It’s probably just an insect bite,” I muttered instinctively.

At my words, her gaze locked onto mine. There it was—on her pale neck, the unmistakable red mark I had left last night. The vivid hue stood out starkly against her flawless skin, consuming my focus entirely.